A Fresh Start

Chapter 24

Breathing heavily and beads of sweat rolling down my forehead, I quickly opened my eyes. It was all a dream. Carl, Hershel, Rick and Daryl. I felt them. It was so real. It was how it should have been after Daryl and I came back from the run. I touched my eyes and felt the tears that had dried upon my face. I sat up and looked around. Sunlight peering through a window nearby. I rubbed the sleep as well as the dried tears from my eyes. Not sure of the time, I got out of the coffin and collapsed on the floor.

"Well, shit," I said.

I was completely oblivious to my messed up ankle. I sat up again and examined it. I twirled it around in circles. The pain coming and going. I stood up with the help of one of the chairs. I slowly put the heel of my foot down. I took a step and the pain was searing. I would have to still limp my way to another unknown destination. I took a seat on the chair and reached for my boot and sock. I slipped on my sock then carefully put on my boot. I tied it up then limped over to grab my backpack and sat back down. I pulled out one of my water bottles and took a few sips. I put it away and stood up. I slug it over my shoulder and slowly made my way toward the doors. Fully aware of the fact that there could be someone else in here. I stood by the door for a few minutes listening intently for anything. Some sort of movement that would indicate I wasn't by myself. There was nothing. I opened the door and made my way to the kitchen. I packed one more jar of pig's feet. I leaned against the table for a few minutes eating some out of the jar. I would save the rest for later so I put them in my backpack. I then made my way down the hall that led to the back door. I stood there with my hand on the knob, contemplating whether to leave or not. I wasn't sure how much further my ankle could last out there. Being out there longer would only make it that much worse. But at the same time, I had to get going. I couldn't waste any more time. I had to get back to my family. I told them I would. As my thoughts were swirling in my head, there was banging on the front door that made me jump. Someone was here. I turned the knob quietly and made my way out of the home. I didn't dare turn back for fear that the owners would try and stop me. I limped as fast as could. There was a road that I ended up following until the funeral home was no longer in sight. I slowed my pace once I couldn't see the funeral home anymore. I reached for my Raphael key chain and was horror-stricken when I realized it wasn't in its usual place.

"No. No, no, no," I said.

I took off my backpack and looked all over.

"No. Oh come on please," I said once I had finished checking and re-checking my backpack.

"No!" I shouted.

I retraced my steps in my mind.

"The coffin," I whispered.

I had taken it off and placed it by my head because it was digging at my side.

"Son of a bitch!" I exclaimed.

That was the last thing I had that belonged to my brother. I didn't know what to do. I sat there in the grass trying to weigh out my options. If I went back, I would run into trouble that I didn't not want to find. If I kept going, I would never be able to forgive myself. I stood up, slung my backpack over my shoulders and made my way into the trees still trying to decide what to do. I walk aimlessly until I stumbled across some tracks. I looked to my left and noticed a sign that looked like it had been recently put up. I walked over to it and noticed there was a map.

'Sanctuary for all. Community for all'.

Below there was a map of all points that lead to the same place.

"Terminus?" I said.

The tracks in front of me led to this place.

'Those who arrive, survive,' was written below the map.

I suddenly remembered where I had heard that before. In the car when Daryl and I and the rest went on that run. That's what was trying to get through. This was the message. It was still pretty far. I stared down at the direction the map said to follow. The funeral home was much closer. Maybe I could go back get the key chain and then follow these tracks to Terminus. It was worth a shot. I had a destination now. I just needed to retrieve my key chain. I couldn't leave it behind. It belonged to my brother. If I had to kill the people that were there, so be it. I was getting back that key chain one way or another. I headed back into the trees and found the road again. I stopped, resting my ankle a bit. I hated this thing. It was slowing me down. But at the same time, it could be much worse. So I had to endure this just until it healed. I stood back up and kept going. I heard some distant growling and pulled out my knife quickly looking all around to see where it was coming from. There were none close by so I kept walking, my knife clenched tightly. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a few dozen had found me. I put down my backpack and went for them. Ignoring the pain in my ankle, I dove my knife into every single head that reached me. Before I knew it, I had managed to get them all. Exhaling heavily, I went back to grab my backpack. Smiling at the fact that I had managed to take out all those walkers. I started walking in the same direction but quickly stopped due to the pain that was suddenly unbearable. I bent down and rubbed my leg slowly making my way to my ankle. I stood up straight and started limping once again, it being a little more painful than before. Rubbing it didn't help. I heard a twig break behind me and just when I turned around, a hard blow sent me to the ground. I looked up and saw what looked like someone in a policeman's uniform making their way to me. My vision was blurry and eventually, everything went black.